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1. Perotis rara, R.Br. 
Botanical name.—Perotis, from the Greek peros, wanting or deficient, 
though the author of the genus gives no indication of what part he 
desires to indicate as deficient (supposing such to have been his idea) ; 
or, perhaps, from the Greek otites, eared, with long ears, and pert, 
around, referring to the long awns; rara, Latin, signifying seldom 
seen, or unusual. It is not a very common grass. 
Vernacular name.—‘ Comet-grass,”’ so called by Mr. Bailey because 
he noticed this grass to be very abundant in the pasture of the Comet 
River district, Queensland. 
Where figured—Agricultural Gazette. 
Botanical description (B. F1., vu, 509).— 
Stems from a decumbent or branching base, slender, ascending to 1 foot or rather 
more. 
Leaves linear, with subulate points, glabrous except a few marginal cilia especially 
at the orifice of the sheaths. 
Ligula ciliate. 
Spike or raceme in some specimens 8 to 4 inches, in others at least twice as long. 
Spikelets always numerous, at first erect, at length reflexed, in some specimens almost 
sessile, in others on pedicels of } to above 3 line long, often ciliate with a few 
hairs, the spikelets very narrow, 2 to 3 lines long without the fine awns, which 
are 4 to | inch long. 
Outer glume with a prominent keel, sometimes glabrous, in a few specimens ciliate 
with rather long hairs. 
Second glume similar, but rather shorter and narrower. 
Value as a fodder.—This is a quick grower. Some observers say it is 
succulent, and stock are stated to be fond of it; but Mr. P. A. 
O’Shanesy, speaking of the dry summer of 1881, states that he has 
observed the goats will not eat it, even in places where there are no 
other grasses. 
Bailey alludes to it as “‘ a small decumbent grass, affording excellent 
sheep-pasture in open country, growing quickly after showers. The 
seeds, though sharp, are not very troublesome.” He found it in much 
favour with the pastoralists of the Comet River, but in other places it 
was not so highly thought of. 
Some of our stock-inspectors do not apppear to be able to appraise 
the value of this grass, and their attention might be drawn to it. 
We know so little about the fodder value of Perotis that it may be 
interesting to note that, speaking of P. latifolia, Roxburgh says that 
cattle are not fond of this grass; Mr. Lowrie, however, states that at 
Ajmere it is considered to be a good fodder grass.” (Duthie.) 
Other uses.—Its inflorescence is ornamental, and may be used for 
decorative purposes. 
Habitat and range.—Found in South Australia, New South Wales, 
Queensland, and Northern Australia. It also occurs in Asia and the 
Pacific Islands. In New South Wales it is always an interior species. 
The Stock Inspector of the Bourke district says that it grows prolifically 
on sandy and red ground, and is not to be found on black soil 
anywhere. 
Reference to Plate—a, Part of the spike, enlarged, to show the attachment of the 
spikelets ; &, A spikelet showing the two very long awns at the extremity of the glumes ; 
c, Unripe grain, very much enlarged. 
